Salvation Army coordinates relief efforts

The Salvation Army is coordinating relief efforts at shelters in Pahoa and Keaau through a central distribution center.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Floodwaters are seen around homes on April 17 in Wainiha, Kauai. After three days of heavy rain and flooding, many residents of Wainiha and Haena were cut off from electricity and water.

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The Salvation Army is coordinating relief efforts at shelters in Pahoa and Keaau through a central distribution center.

Located near the Pahoa community pool parking area, the center opened on Tuesday and its daily hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Beginning Saturday, it will shift to a schedule of Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m.

“The distribution center is being established to provide basic-needs items to those affected by the Puna lava flow,” said Maj. John Bennett, divisional secretary for business for The Salvation Army’s Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, in a press release. “We are currently seeking volunteers to help sort items and staff the distribution center. In addition, we are working with our partner agencies, such as Food Basket, to supply the items. Please direct all food donations, including bottled water, to Food Basket. Clothing items may be dropped off at any of our three Hawaii island thrift stores. Those in need will be provided clothing vouchers for redemption at our stores.”

>> Distribution center: Assistance is needed to sort items and staff the central distribution center. For details and to sign up, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org and click on the “volunteer” button.

>> Food bank: In addition to non-perishable food and cases of bottled water, there is a need for juice boxes, kid-friendly food and garbage bags. Donations may be dropped off at Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s Food Bank, at 40 Holomua St., Hilo and 73-4161 Ulu Wini Pl., Kailua-Kona. For details, call (808) 933-6030.

>> Meals: The Salvation Army continues to provide meals at its Pahoa and Keaau shelters. It currently seeks large volume meal donations from local restaurants and certified kitchens (due to health safety food preparation standards). Contact The Salvation Army at (808) 756-0306. The following community organizations and businesses have assisted in providing meals so far: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, Kaumana; Strato’s Pizza; Connect Point Church, Hilo; Keiki Carnival (Big Island Substance Abuse Council); Sure Foundation Puna, The Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps; Seventh-day Adventist Church, Hilo and Puna; Sergio Lunch Wagon; and the Hilo High School football team.

>> Clothing: Assistance needed to help sort clothing donations at The Salvation Army’s thrift stores in Honokaa, Hilo and Kailua-Kona. For additional details and to sign up, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org and click on the “volunteer” button. Clothing vouchers are being distributed for those impacted by the current lava flow.

>> Red Kettle donations: Monetary donations to support The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services efforts will be accepted at an EDS Awareness Event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, at Tamarind Park in Honolulu, or via a link to a donation webpage at hawaii.salvationarmy.org.

>> Customer donations: Any Bank of Hawaii branch in Hawaii, the West Pacific Region and American Samoa is accepting donations from customers for disaster relief efforts; any Central Pacific Bank location through May 31 is accepting donations with the opportunity for customers to designate support for Hawaii islanad or Kauai relief efforts; First Hawaiian Bank has an Aloha for Hawaii Fund for Hawaii island, Kauai and East Oahu at any branch in Hawaii, Guam or Saipan; Foodland has an Aloha for Puna & Pahoa diaster relief fund at all of its Foodland, Sack N Save and Malama Market stores with donation options of $5, $10 or $20 donations; HiLife — Kokua Collection — is donating a percentage of sales from various items to flood and volcano relief efforts at hilifehawaii.com/collections/kokua.

>> Red Cross: Volunteers are needed to staff the Red Cross shelters. Training will be provided. Go to redcross.org and complete an online volunteer application. For questions, call (808) 739-8122.

For flood victims

The following are among relief efforts underway for flood victims on Kauai and in East Oahu:

>> Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers headquartered in Princeville is offering to match funds donated to the Hawai‘i Life Charitable Fund (up to $25,000). The nonprofit is redirecting funds from the HLCF to the Kaua‘i Red Cross and to Malama Kaua‘i, to help in immediate recovery efforts. For more information, contact Meghan Thibault meghanthibault@hawaiilife.com.

>> A fundraiser sponsored by Grove Farm Foundation for Kauai is being planned in Honolulu and would feature some of the Garden Island’s iconic food dishes. Proceeds from “Aloha Kaua’i” will be given to organizations, residents, and businesses who aren’t being assisted by other recovery efforts. The event on Thursday, May 24, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the parking lot at the corner of Nimitz and Nuuanu. Tickets, $150, available at alohakauai.eventbrite.com.

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